Hoffman: Petersburg's Gray hits it big in Reno

Brazile watch

During the past weekend, many of the world’s top competitors congregated at the Reno Rodeo in Nevada, which traditionally is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s first major summer show. The 2012 edition offered competitors $491,487.

From now until the regular season concludes on Sept. 30, world class competitors relentlessly will pursue qualifications to the Dec. 6-15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

One world class cowboy who cashed in during the June 15-23 Reno Rodeo was Ryan Gray, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has homes in Cheney, Wash., and Petersburg. He earned $7,711 after tying for first in the bareback riding average.

When the title was at stake during the final round, Gray turned in a score of 87 aboard the Big Bend Rodeo Co. bronc Spotted Mountain. After the last bronc had bucked, Gray and defending world champion Kaycee Feild tied for first with a three-ride score of 249.

After all that, Gray, a former Texas Tech star, is ranked 18th in the PRCA world bareback riding standings with regular season earnings of $19,695.

Another local cowboy who cashed in at Reno was seven-time NFR qualifier Wes Stevenson of Lubbock. He finished third behind Gray and Feild and earned $6,461. Stevenson, who also is a former Texas Tech standout, is ranked first in the world title race with $65,270. Three-time world champion Will Lowe of Canyon is ranked second with $59,007.

Brazile watch

As he attempts to earn a record 10th PRCA world all-around title, Trevor Brazile, an Amarillo native who lives in Decatur, earned $8,892 last weekend in two countries. His biggest payday came at the Wainwright (Alberta) Stampede, where he and partner Patrick Smith won the final round and finished second in the average of the team roping to go with Brazile’s fifth-place finish in the tie-down roping for a total of $4,294.

He also earned $3,895 at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo and $703 in High River, Alberta, to increase his all-around total to $95,612. Colby Lovell of Madisonville is ranked second with $48,304.

According to the PRCA, Brazile leads the world standings in both the all-around and steer roping, is fourth among team roping headers and is 28th in tie-down roping as he chases his record seventh consecutive (and 10th overall) all-around gold buckle. His total of 16 world championships is just two shy of the all-time record held by steer roper Guy Allen.

Pecos rodeo update

Many of the world’s top competitors are in Pecos this weekend to compete in the famous West of the Pecos Rodeo. Vin Fisher Jr., a former National Finals Steer Roping qualifier from Andrews, earned $1,235 after finishing third in the second round. The Pecos rodeo runs through Saturday night.

BRETT HOFFMAN, A TEXAS COWBOY HALL OF FAME MEMBER, HAS WRITTEN A RODEO COLUMN FOR THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM DURING THE PAST 25 YEARS. EMAIL HIM AT BRETT@MYRODEOINSIDER.COM.